脊椎动物FoxO基因亚族的进化

本研究以脊椎动物FoxO作为研究对象,选取NCBI上公布的多个FoxO基因编码蛋白的核苷酸序列,重点分析Fox O蛋白质结构和功能的相似性与差异性,重建FoxO基因的系统发育树并进行选择压力分析,对FoxO基因亚族的起源和进化进行研究分析。结果显示:脊椎动物FoxO蛋白间Forhead结构域十分保守但核定位信号区结构差异较明显,尤其是FoxO6蛋白,并且多个磷酸化位点在哺乳动物FoxO6中缺失,削弱核输出信号,但在斑马鱼和原鸡的FoxO6中未缺失这些位点,推测其胞质定位调控作用仍十分重要。FoxO3中多个磷酸化位点可能与寿命延长作用相关。系统发育树表明FoxO1是FoxO基因的祖先基因,不同FoxO基因进化速率不同。选择压力分析结果显示FoxO基因过程每个位点经历不同的选择压,并且获得25个正选择位点,这些正选择位点可能对FoxO不同基因的形成和新功能的产生中具有十分重要的作用。     

Generation of virus‐resistant potato plants by RNA genome targeting

CRISPR/Cas systems provide bacteria and archaea with molecular immunity against invading phages and foreign plasmids. The class 2 type VI CRISPR/Cas effector Cas13a is an RNA‐targeting CRISPR effector that provides protection against RNA phages. Here we report the repurposing of CRISPR/Cas13a to protect potato plants from a eukaryotic virus, Potato virus Y (PVY). Transgenic potato lines expressing Cas13a/sgRNA (small guide RNA) constructs showed suppressed PVY accumulation and disease symptoms. The levels of viral resistance correlated with the expression levels of the Cas13a/sgRNA construct in the plants. Our data further demonstrate that appropriately designed sgRNAs can specifically interfere with multiple PVY strains, while having no effect on unrelated viruses such as PVA or Potato virus S. Our findings provide a novel and highly efficient strategy for engineering crops with resistances to viral diseases.     

Autotrophic Bacterial Community and Microbial CO2 Fixation Respond to Vegetation Restoration of Eroded Agricultural Land

Ecosystems - Vegetation restoration can dramatically affect soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) pools and microbial communities. Yet, it is uncertain what effects of vegetation restoration have on...     

Polymorphic Microsatellite Markers for Solen grandis and Their Cross-Species Amplification in Three Other Species

The grand jackknife clam Solen grandis is a commercially important mollusk species, but has been suffering from severe population decline due to over-exploitation and habitat destruction in China. To promote a conservation program for this species, it is necessary to evaluate its genetic diversity and population genetics. In this study, 10 novel polymorphic microsatellite makers were developed and characterized from the S. grandis through high throughput sequencing. The number of alleles at each locus ranged from 10 to 34 with an average of 20.8 alleles per locus. The observed and expected heterozygosities varied from 0.433 to 1.000 and from 0.696 to 0.976, with an average of 0.793 and 0.884, respectively. The polymorphism information content (PIC) value ranged from 0.633 (Sg43838) to 0.958 (Sg3754), with an average of 0.858. The cross-species amplification transferability of 10 loci to three closely related species ranged from 4.17 to 62.5%. These microsatellite loci will be useful for further investigation of population structure and conversation genetics of this species.     

Integrative taxonomy recognized a new cryptic species within Stipa grandis from Loess Plateau of China

Stipa shanxiensis, a cryptic species within Stipa grandis that originated from central and western China, is described based on morphological, genomic, and ecological data from field and common garden experiments. Stipa shanxiensis morphologically resembles S. grandis, although phylogenetically it is closely related to the less morphologically similar Stipa baicalensis and Stipa krylovii. Of the eight significant morphological differences between S. shanxiensis and S. grandis, the two, cauline ligules longer than 2 cm with a filiform apex, and hairs shorter than 0.2 mm on the adaxial surface of the cauline uppermost leaves can be used to distinguish the species. Results from a common garden experiment verified that the two diagnostic characteristics were relatively stable and less morphologically plastic in response to environmental variation. Furthermore, a significant ecological divergence was found between S. shanxiensis and S. grandis, such that the former preferred warmer and more humid climates, and their predicted distribution was generally separated. Taken together, our results highlight that the integrative taxonomic approach was valuable for recognizing a new cryptic species in Stipa. In particular, we find that common garden experiments involving the effects of growth stage and characteristic position helped to morphologically diagnose cryptic species. These findings may also facilitate our understandings of ecological adaption and phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental change.     

Erratum to: MYH7B variants cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by activating the CaMK-signaling pathway

Science China Life Sciences -     

Regulation of antiviral immune response by African swine fever virus (ASFV)

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and acute hemorrhagic viral disease with a high mortality approaching 100% in domestic pigs. ASF is an endemic in countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Now, it has been spreading to many countries, especially in Asia and Europe. Due to the fact that there is no commercial vaccine available for ASF to provide sustainable prevention, the disease has spread rapidly worldwide and caused great economic losses in swine industry. The knowledge gap of ASF virus (ASFV) pathogenesis and immune evasion is the main factor to limit the development of safe and effective ASF vaccines. Here, we will summarize the molecular mechanisms of how ASFV interferes with the host innate and adaptive immune responses. An in-depth understanding of ASFV immune evasion strategies will provide us with rational design of ASF vaccines.